A selection of gravel rides that will take you through spectacular forest, rolling rural landscapes, riverside roads and hinterland climbs across Eurobodalla.

﻿﻿

https://www.youtube.com/embed/-EytJURmt3k

Cycling - Gravel Rides

​​​​﻿﻿​​​​​﻿

https://www.youtube.com/embed/uuwK3DabkZQ

This ride starts in the picturesque town of Bodalla. Make sure you leave enough time to stop in at the Bakery, Dairy or Pub in Bodalla.

**Difficulty Level: 4.5/5**

Level of Rider: Advanced

Suggested Bike: Gravel, MTB and E-MTB possible

Surface: To begin you will be on paved roads before riding along mostly solid, well compacted gravel roads. The first and last ~500m is on the Princes Highway as riders leave Bodalla.8% Paved / 92% Gravel / 0% Other

Elevation: 7m - 638m

Estimated ride time @ 15kph: ~5:45 hours

Estimated ride time @ 25kph: ~3:30 hours

Parking: Behind the Bodalla Dairy Shed.

Facilities at Start / Finish: Bodalla Bakery, Bodalla Dairy Cafe and Bodalla Pub.

Public Toilet Facilities: Bodalla Memorial Hall, 60 Princes Hiighway Bodalla.

Other Facilities on loop: There are no other facilities on this ride.

Other Notes: This is a 4.5/5 level ride due to the large and steep climb/descent that riders will face. Riders will head out from Bodalla on paved roads before rolling through some brilliant Eurobodalla farming country. Then riders begin a ~24km section up one of the biggest climbs in the area to the top of Comerang Road (638m). Then comes ~12km descent through the Dampier State Forest down into Nerrigundah. Soon after the descent there is a chance to visit the Miles O'Grady Monument in Nerrigundah to read about the history of the valley during the gold rush. There a variety of ways to shorten the loop from Nerrigundah back to Bodalla. If you do not want to do the full loop you can follow the signs back to Bodalla.

**Please remember:**

On the weekends Bodalla gets very busy so please park further up the road near All Saints Anglican Church. The link given on this ride is for the full loop. To finish the full loop riders go through the Bodalla State Forest and then ride over and alongside the beautiful Tuross River before returning back through more lush farming land on the way back to Bodalla. As of October 2020, the bridge over the Tuross River is not there. Riders will get wet crossing the Tuross River.

[Strava Route](https://www.strava.com/routes/2751590856111507858)

﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿[](https://www.strava.com/routes/2751590856111507858)

Bodalla Course

Nelligen Heritage Area

Moruya

Fantastic gum tree and lush fern sections with a superb coastal view once riders are at the turn around point of North Head lookout.

**Difficulty Level: 1/5**

Level of Rider: Beginners / Family / Open for all riders

Suggested Bike: Gravel, MTB and E-MTB possible

Surface: All solid, well compacted gravel roads - 7% Paved / 92% Gravel / 1% Other

Other: The final 2km to finish the loop is on Durras Drive which is on open-road

Elevation: 14m - 149m

Estimated ride time @ 15kph: ~1:30 hours

Estimated ride time @ 25kph: ~0:50 mins

Parking: Area of Corilla St, South Durras NSW 2536

Facilities at Start / Finish: General Store (now permanently closed)

Public Toilet Facilities: Murramarang Beach Reserve or Durras Oval

Other Facilities on loop: Toilet available at the turn around at North Head camp ground ~9km

Other Notes: When at the North Head camp site (~9km), ride the walking track up towards the North Head Beach lookout.

**Please remember:**

Walkers have right of way. You will need to park your bikes at the start of the stairs and walk the short distance to the raised platform where you will have a superb costal view. Return back the same way to the North Head camp site and continue to follow the route. Once you come out of the Murramarang National Park, you will be riding for 2km along Durras Drive which is on open road back to the start location.

[Strava Route](https://www.strava.com/routes/2742969981610404260)

South Durras Course

Shallow Crossing

Oaky Beach Walking Track

Nelligen

Start in the village of Mogo for this scenic loop ride.

**Difficulty Level: 3.5/5**

Level of Rider: Intermediate to Advanced

Suggested Bike: Gravel, MTB and E-MTB possible

Surface : Primarily well compacted gravel roads with some steep gravel roads, both up and down -1% Paved / 99% Gravel / 0%

Elevation: 15m - 425m

Other:

Estimated ride time @ 15kph: ~4:45 hours

Estimated ride time @ 25kph: ~2:45 hours

Parking: Mogo Public Toilets off Tomakin Road, Mogo.

Facilities at Start / Finish: A variety of cafes in Mogo

Public Toilet Facilities: Corner Princes Hwy and Tomakin Road

Other Facilities on loop: There are no other facilities on this ride

Other Notes: There is a lot of climbing on this loop including one very long climb which is ~11km in distance. This climb takes riders from 30m to 425m above sea-level which is followed by a 4km steep gravel descent. This loop offers a great variety of forestry roads through the Mogo State Forest and then through some beautiful open farm land. Riders will cross the spectacular wooden bridge in Runnyford. If safe, stop and watch the water pass and keep an eye out for stingrays and schools of fish. Riders then finish the loop by coming back through a different section of the Mogo State Forest.

[Strava Route](https://www.strava.com/routes/2742984582246713764)

Mogo Course

Myrtle Beach walking track

The lush green countryside and long timber barns surrounding this 150-year-old working village tell you you’re in prime dairy country. Australia’s first commercial cheese and first cheese exports were made here, and the tradition is very much alive.

Today, Bodalla cheese-making is more bespoke. The Bodalla Dairy Shed on the main road, uses an old-fashioned batch pasteurising method to produce award-winning cheeses from their own herd of notoriously happy cows. The process can be viewed from behind glass inside the dairy, and cheese-making courses are available. The adjoining Dairy Shed Café offers a chance to sample and buy all of the products made including their uniquely-flavoured ice cream, as well as other food and local produce. The café has a distinctly retro feel and features a great outdoor deck area for long warm days, and a huge stone fireplace for cooler times.

Other great eateries, quirky shops and interesting galleries are dotted along Bodalla’s main street, with Gallery Bodalla, in the old Post Office, exhibiting impressive local works. It makes for an easy and relaxed walk, with time to take in small details. Like many 19th century towns, the architecture here is dominated by the two competing services of the time; the church and the pub.

The magnificent All Saints Church dates to the 1880s and is built in the Victorian Academic Gothic style. The nearby Bodalla Pub has been the towns other meeting places for over 100 years.

As well as offering incredible natural landscapes, the valley holds the relics of a wild and largely unknown past. The now quiet village of Nerrigundah was once a booming gold mining town. In 1866, Australia’s worst and most troublesome bushrangers, the Clarke Gang, held up the town to liberate it of its gold. In the ensuing gunfight, a police constable and one of the gang members were killed. An obelisk now stands in the town to commemorate the fallen police officer. There is still evidence of this gold rush past around the town.

Bodalla

North Head campground

Mogo

Be prepared for some steep hill climbs on this scenic 2-3 hour ride.

**Difficulty Level: 3/5**

Level of Rider: Intermediate to Advanced

Suggested Bike: Gravel, MTB and E-MTB possible

Surface: Primarily well compacted gravel roads with some steep gravel sections, both up and down - 8% Paved / 92% Gravel / 0% Other

Elevation: 5m - 222m

Estimated ride time @ 15kph: ~3:00 hours

Estimated ride time @ 25kph: ~2:00 hours

Parking: Riverside Park off Shore St, Moruya

Facilities at Start / Finish: A variety of cafes in Moruya

Public Toilet Facilities: Riverside Park

Other Facilities on loop: There are no other facilities on this ride

Other Notes: This is not a flat ride, be prepared for some long and steep climbs and descents on gravel roads. This ride starts next to the Moruya River which is just a stones throw away from many cafes and eateries, plus Moruya Cycles. Riders will head out from Moruya on paved roads before climbing and descending through the Deua National Park and also the Moruya State Forest before returning back to the start via paved roads into Moruya.

[Strava Route](https://www.strava.com/routes/2751598510336414552)

﻿

https://www.youtube.com/embed/-EytJURmt3k

Moruya Course

Bodalla boasts two significant churches designed by two of the most prominent architects of the 19th century in the colony.

Thomas Sutcliffe Mort, a leading Sydney businessman, established the Bodalla Estate in 1860 as his country estate. Mort was responsible for revolutionizing the wool industry in Australia, pioneering specialised wool auctions and pastoral finance, developing Mort's dock, and pioneering the export of frozen meat.

Mort is known as 'the father of Australian dairying.' In 1864, he introduced a factory system that replaced the traditional cottage industry, allowing milk from different sources to be manipulated to produce a consistent quality cheese that could compete with English imports. These ideas were adopted by dairy farmers across the country.

Initially, Bodalla's village was on the river flats, but Mort established a new village on higher ground following floods in the 1860s and 1870s. The Bodalla Estate remained in the Mort family for over a century.

You can visit the All Saints Anglican Church, which was built between 1883 and 1902 as a memorial to Thomas Mort and his first wife, Theresa. The shingled Catholic Church, built in 1886, is also worth a visit. The Bodalla Dairy Shed offers a fascinating insight into the town's history. Take a stroll through the village and visit the Bodalla Arms Hotel (1910), the bakery (mid-1880s), and the Post Office (1899).

Bodalla Heritage Area

Take a walk back in time through Bodalla and ponder the village as it was. Beginning at the All Saints Church, continue south past the Bodalla Cottage, memorial hall, bakery, post office and on to the old police station where you cross over the highway to the fire shed. Continue south and turn down Sutcliffe Street. At the old Bodalla School follow the street north passing the Uniting Church, Stone Shed and complete the walk at Bodalla Pub.

Length: 3.5 kilometres return Time: Two hours Grade: Easy Start: All Saints Church, Princes Highway, Bodalla

Bodalla Historic Town Walk

Honeysuckle Beach Walking Track

https://www.youtube.com/embed/EItA-bzDWZY

﻿

Start in the beautiful historical village of Nelligen. There is also the chance to climb all the way up to Big Bit Road. Riders will also cross the weir at Shallow Crossing and end the loop with a superb ride along River Road which parallels the Clyde River all the way back to Nelligen.

**Difficulty Level : 3.5/5**

Level of Rider: Intermediate to Advanced

Suggested Bike: Gravel, MTB and E-MTB possible

Surface: Primarily well compacted gravel roads with some steep sections both up and down mostly in the first 40km - 4% Paved / 96% Gravel / 0% Other

Elevation: 1m - 218m

Estimated ride time @ 15kph: ~4:00 hours

Estimated ride time @ 25kph: ~2:45 hours

Parking: Area of Braidwood St, Nelligen NSW 2536

Facilities at Start / Finish: Cafe (not open daily)

Public Toilet Facilities: Braidwood Street

Other Facilities on loop: There are no other facilities on this ride

Other Notes: The first 1km from Nelligen is along The Kings Highway which includes a crossing of the Clyde River over the Nelligen bridge. The climb up to Big Bit Road includes some +15% sections of fire trail. At the top there are views over the ranges and out to the Tasman Sea. There are at least two river crossings with the main one being the Clyde River at Shallow Crossing. The second one is ~13.5km before you get back to Nelligen, it is not as long as the Shallow Crossing. Shallow Crossing is tidal and should not be crossed at high tide. It is roughly 100m in length so you will get wet. The second crossing is roughly 30m in length, again you will get wet. There is an option to visit the Clyde River Berry Farm. It is open seasonally so call ahead. It is not designated on the loop and you will need to turn right at River Rd. The Clyde River Berry Farm is 5km in the other direction from Shallow Crossing.

Clyde River Berry Farm: Lot 22 The River Rd, Mogood NSW 2538 : +61 2 4478 1057

**Please remember:**

The last 2km, once riders turn off River Road, is along The Kings Highway which takes you back to Nelligen. NOTE : As of October 2020, stay on the course through the Boyne State Forest as there are many bridges which have been burnt/washed away.

[Strava Route](https://www.strava.com/routes/2751036674134767360)

Nelligen Course B

Moruya Heritage Area

Enjoy the out and back ride along the scenic Clyde River.

**Difficulty Level: 1/5**

Level of Rider: Beginners / Family / Open for all riders

Suggested Bike: Gravel, MTB and E-MTB possible

Surface: All solid, well compacted gravel roads - 7% Paved / 92% Gravel / 1% Other

Other : ALTERNATE START POINT OFF KINGS HIGHWAY. On the full ride, the first and final 2km is on The Kings Highway - speed limit of 80KPH

Alternate start and finish location for Beginner Riders, park at the corner of River Road and Kings Highway

Elevation: 2m - 42m

Estimated ride time @ 15kph: ~3:00 hours

Estimated ride time @ 25kph: ~1:45 hours

Parking: Area of Braidwood St, Nelligen NSW 2536

Facilities at Start / Finish: Cafe (not open daily)

Public Toilet Facilities: Braidwood Street

Parking Beginner Riders: Corner of River Road and Kings Highway

Other Facilities on loop: There are no other facilities on this ride

Other Notes: Riders have at least ONE river crossing, roughly 30m in length so you will get wet. If you cross the second crossing, which is the Shallow River Crossing, please note that it is tidal and should NOT be crossed at high tide. It is roughly 100m in length so you will get wet. If you go over the Shallow Crossing of the Clyde River and continue along The River Road for ~5km, you can stop at the Clyde Berry Farm. We suggest that you call ahead to make sure it is open. It is not designated on this ride link.

Clyde Berry Farm: Lot 22 The River Rd, Mogood NSW 2538 : +61 2 4478 1057

Once you turn around at Shallow Crossing follow the same exact way that you rode out back to the start location.

[Strava Route](https://www.strava.com/routes/2751611880379676292)

﻿[https://www.youtube.com/embed/EItA-bzDWZY](https://www.strava.com/routes/2751611880379676292)